A unit of BP PLC has submitted an application with the Washington State Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council to construct and operate a 720 MW, natural gas-fired cogeneration facility in the state. Of note, BP Westcoast Products LLC is not closing the door on bringing in another company to participate in the management, development and construction of the plant in exchange for an equity interest once BP Westcoast obtains a permit.

In paperwork submitted to the council earlier this month, BP Westcoast noted that the proposed power plant will be built on 33 acres of land adjacent to the BP Cherry Point refinery. The project will be located within Whatcom County, WA, near the community of Birch Bay.

Of the 720 MW of power produced by the plant, approximately 85 MW will be delivered to the refinery, leaving around 635 MW available for the Pacific Northwest electric grid. By providing the refinery with electricity, the plant will enable the refinery to eliminate its reliance on third-party sources of electricity and to avoid the operation of temporary natural gas-fired electrical generators.

A new 230-kV transmission line will connect the plant to an existing Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) 230-kV transmission line located about 0.8 miles east of the refinery. This new transmission line will be located entirely on BP property. Another new transmission line will be constructed across BP property to connect the plant to the refinery.

BP Westcoast said that natural gas will be delivered to the project through a proprietary natural gas pipeline that currently provides gas to the refinery. A gas compressor station will be built at the project’s site to increase pipeline delivery pressure. If needed, additional gas will be obtained from other third-party pipelines.

BP Westcoast noted that it is currently the sole applicant for the cogeneration project and that it was initially the company’s intention to own the entire project. “This ownership arrangement remains a possibility, but it is also possible that once BP [Westcoast] obtains a permit, it might invite another company to participate in the management, development and construction of the cogeneration project in exchange for an equity interest.” BP Westcoast said that it would keep the siting council informed of any potential changes in ownership interest of the project.

The company said that development, engineering and construction of the project, including making the needed changes to the refinery to accommodate the power and steam from the facility, will be accomplished over approximately five years.

The siting council has scheduled public information and environmental scoping meetings on the project for July 9 in Washington state. For additional information on the siting council and the project, go to the siting council’s web site at: www.efsec.wa.gov.

©Copyright 2002 Intelligence Press Inc. Allrights reserved. The preceding news report may not be republishedor redistributed, in whole or in part, in any form, without priorwritten consent of Intelligence Press, Inc.